A revision of Cousinia sections Alpinae (syn. Carduncellus), Subappendiculatae and Tianschanicae (Asteraceae) in the Kirghizian Tian-Shan and the neighbouring territories

A taxonomic revision of Cousinia sections Alpinae (syn. Carduncellus), Subappendiculatae, and Tianschanicae in the Kirghizian Tian-Shan reveals species-specific traits in anther appendages that enable precise identification and reclassification. Two new species from Kirghizia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan were previously misclassified under Cousinia tianschanica. The study splits section Carduncellus into two distinct sections—Alpinae (restoring its older name) and Tianschanicae—and corrects species distributions, including the first report of C. fetissowii in Uzbekistan. A comprehensive taxonomic treatment with identification keys, descriptions, maps, and typifications is provided, clarifying species boundaries and distribution patterns across mountain ranges.

Sennikov, A. N. (2013). A revision of Cousinia sections Alpinae (syn. Carduncellus), Subappendiculatae and Tianschanicae (Asteraceae) in the Kirghizian Tian-Shan and the neighbouring territories. Phytotaxa, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.5.1.1